//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 Part 3 // Story: Paper Mario: The Land of Harmony // by Blade Squall //------------------------------// Western San Palomino Desert It took a bit to get prepared for their journey. It wasn’t that Mario didn’t have the coins for a night at the inn or fresh supplies. It was more of the fact that the general store’s shopkeeper and the Salt Lick Saloon’s bartender did not appreciate Boomregard in their places of business, Silverstar’s agreement to let him go free or not. The shopkeeper refused to sell to Mario until the Boomerang Bro agreed to wait outside where he couldn’t steal the shop’s supplies. And the tavern keeper just plain kicked the group out, refusing to give them a room at all as long as Boomregard was with them. That wasn’t a safe idea, either. Many of the Appleloosans, both Earth Pony and Koopa alike, scattered at the sight of the outlaw no longer behind bars. The only souls in the town who weren’t scared by him being out were Silverstar, Braeburn, Mario, Spike, Karoline, Kooper, Kolorado, and the other Koopa archeologists. And even then, Silverstar did little to hide his discomfort with letting a dangerous criminal free. Boomregard could tell he wasn’t welcome in Appleloosa. In fact, the only Appleloosa citizen who even bothered reaching out to him was the doctor, Karoline. She was actually rather interested in seeing him more so than anyone else, expressing her worry that Boomregard would be injured or worse in the Buffalo Burial Grounds. However, Boomregard felt that the only reason Karoline seemed to care was because she was a doctor and was paid to be concerned… not because she was genuinely worried. So, when Mario and Spike were finally restocked, the three hit the road rather quickly. Boomregard lead the party through the desert, keeping his Boomerang skills rather sharp by practicing on many of the enemies that chose to attack the trio. The Boomerang Bro, despite his amnesia, knew the path pretty well, easily guiding Mario and Spike through it and off of the path that Mario and Spike had not steered away from to get to Appleloosa. Eventually, to the southwest of the river, Boomregard led the duo to a huge crater in the middle of the ground. “This is where the sheriff an’ his talkative friend found me,” Boomregard voiced. “Whatever Ah was doin’ in the middle o’ a big ol’ hole in the earth, somethin’ tells me it involves Guylan an’ his gang.” “It’s hard to believe that a necklace or tiara could do this kind of damage,” Mario breathed, looking at how deep the impact was. “Magical artifact or not, the Elements were jewelry when I last saw them. And unless the Bearers have some sort of super strength for even pony standards, I do not believe that the Elements are heavy enough could cause crater damage.” “Maybe the Elements went into some type of dull state,” Spike suggested. “I think I heard Twilight say something about this, once… the Elements when she first found them with the girls, they were nothing more than giant gray spheres, totally lifeless. Then, once Twilight realized that she had finally gained friends through her journey, a spark ignited the Elements, giving them the forms we saw back in Canterlot.” “Hold on there, Spike,” Boomregard interrupted. “What in tarnations are ya’ll goin’ on ’bout? Elements o’ Harmony? Canterlot? What’s goin’ on, you two?” “Right,” Mario realized. “You don’t really know what’s happened. I guess you’re excusable since you don’t really know anything BEFORE waking up here. You see, this all kind of began when my friends and I came to Equestria for a vacation….” With that, Mario and Spike took turns explaining to Boomregard about what happened in Canterlot, the Bearers getting kidnapped, how they found out that the Elements had been scattered, Goombella pointing them to this region, and their current quest. Boomregard took this in a slow stride. “Well,” the Boomerang Bro voiced, “sounds like ya got a real problem on yer hands, boys. Ah’m sorry to hear about yer damsels in distress, by the way. Ah hope they’re alright wherever they are, gents.” “Which is why we’re gonna get them back,” Spike answered, pointing to himself and Mario. “Now Ah know why ya’ll have a bone to pick with Guylan,” Boomregard is. “If what Spike says is true, then he has his mitts on the Element. Well, what are we waitin’ fer? Let’s go git it back from him so we can save the Bearers.” “We?” Mario asked the Boomerang Bro. “Uh Boomregard, you don’t have to fully join up with us.” He was a little uncomfortable about recruiting a former outlaw… even if the criminal DID have amnesia. “Ah don’t see why not right now,” Boomregard answered. “Ah can’t just sit by an’ let those mares rot in some sort o’ cell like Ah was. Even if Ah am this outlaw everyone keeps talkin’ ’bout, it just don’t feel right to have somethin’ that valuable an’ powerful, let alone leavin’ it in the hands of mah ex partner… provided that’s all true. ’Sides, with yer help, Ah just might be able to find out who Ah really am. It works out fer all o’ us.” “Fine, I guess,” Mario shrugged. “So, anyways, we need to find the Buffalo Burial Grounds. Our first clue will be something where this fits into.” With that, he took the Eagle Relic, showing it to Boomregard. “Hmm… can’t say Ah recognize it, Ah’m ’fraid,” Boomregard confessed. “Sorry. It ain’t bringin’ back any memories. However, if that talkative pony was right, there should be somethin’ where that stone fits ‘round here. Since if we go east we’ll hit river, Ah say we try a bit more to the west.” “I guess that would make sense,” Mario voiced. With that, the three pressed onward. Eventually, though, Mario spotted in an otherwise simple plain a rock. Mario would have ignored the rock entirely and kept walking, but he could not help but notice the carving in the rock’s surface. It was in the shape of an Eagle feather, about the size of the Eagle Relic. Mario pulled out the sacred relic Thunderhooves gave him, and placed the feather into the stone, remembering the chief’s words. Soon enough, though, the rock suddenly sunk into the ground. Before Mario, Spike, and Boomregard could even guess what was going on, the ground beneath them began to fly away, forcing the trio to cover their eyes as the sand flew everywhere. The sudden sandstorm was combined with a monstrous rumbling, as a massive, sand brown Buffalo skull seemed to emerge from the ground, the Eagle Relic sitting in a bump forehead head. “That was AWESOME!” Spike spoke up for all three of them. “When we rescue Twilight and Rarity, I’ve got to tell them about that. Well, I guess this is the entrance to the Buffalo Burial Grounds… but I’m not seeing a way inside that we can reach.” Mario looked at it, too, and was surprised about how right the baby Dragon was. There was no way that the three of them could enter the skull. The eye sockets were too high and the snout seemed to be forced shut. “FOOOOLS!” a voice bellowed from the giant skull. “WHO DARES TRESPASS ON OUR PLACE OF SLUMBER? I AM THE SPIRIT OF THE GREAT MAASAWU, GUARDIAN SPIRIT OF THE BUFFALO WHOSE GAMES HAVE ENDED! TURN BACK NOW, OR FACE THE WRATH OF THE UNDEAD!” Spike, Mario, and Boomregard all looked at each other, and then at the giant skull. “Uh, we’ve received permission to enter these burial grounds, actually,” Mario corrected. “Chief Thunderhooves gave us that stone.” ‘I don’t know what’s weirder,’ Mario thought to himself, 'the fact that I’m trying to reason with a giant talking cave, or the fact that it’s talking.’ “…THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE!” the skull argued after a long silence. “THERE IS NO WAY THAT CHIEF THUNDERHOOVES WOULD ALLOW YOU ACCESS TO OUR SACRED GROUND! NOW BEGONE… OR FACE A TERRIBLE CURSE!” “No way, partner,” Boomregard answered. “We’ve come too far just to git up. Ah don’t care who ya are, bud, but Ah’m lookin’ fer someone by the name o’ Black Mask Guylan. He’s supposed to be inside ya. Now send him up yer throat.” There was more silence. “I DON’T KNOW WHO YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT!” the skull responded. “NOW YOU ARE FORCING MY UNDEAD HAND— er, HOOF! NOW, I WILL OFFER YOU ONE FINAL CHANCE TO RUN AWAY, TRESSPASSERS, BEFORE I CURSE YOU ALL. I SUGGEST YOU TAKE IT!” “(…What is WRONG with these guys!?)” a voice muttered aloud from the inside of the right eye. “(They’re supposed to have run away the first time. I’m running out of creative threats!)” “(SHH!)” another voice commented. “(They’ll hear you! And it looks like… Wild Spin!? I thought he was dead! Please tell me he doesn’t remember that we secretly painted the rope holding this place shut to blend in with the teeth and tied them to right below the eye sockets! Lucky for us that the baby Dragon can’t breathe fire that high, but a Boomerang Bro’s Boomerang would allow them to cut it. That would allow him inside! And he’s probably not too happy with Guylan right now….)” Mario, Spike, and Boomregard looked at each other, Boomregard holding up his Boomerang. “Ah take it ya’ll heard that stupid remark, too?” Boomregard asked them in a rhetorical manner. “Yeah,” Spike nodded. “Please create our entrance, Boomregard.” “Will do,” Boomregard answered, throwing his Boomerang upwards and slicing both of the ropes right below the eyes. No longer being supported, the lower jaw fell, slamming into the ground and throwing two Bandits out of the eye sockets and landing right in front of them. “So that’s what Chief Thunderhooves meant by a throwing wing,” Mario realized. “He meant a Boomerang!” “Ugh…” one of the Bandits groaned. “I hate sentry duty…” “Me too…” the other Bandit scowled. The two then looked up, spotting Mario’s group. “Oh crud! We gotta report to Guylan!” “Hold on a second,” the other Bandit interrupted. “I’m one for reporting to the boss that we’re having company, but I’m not going to him empty handed. Let’s at least get him some free Coins before we go to him!” With that, the Bandits charged at the three… only to be taken down really quick by the advantage of three against two, Mario’s Power Smash to one of their heads, Spike’s Jackhammer Tail, and Boomregard’s Wild Arc. With both Bandits too unconscious to regret their decision to attack the trio, Mario hit the conveniently located Heart Block to heal their wounds, and walked into the open skull’s mouth, his partners following behind. --- Buffalo Burial Grounds Mario, Spike, and Boomregard could not help but look around the ancient burial ground. Even though it was taken over by the Bandits, they had to admit what they saw once they were down the throat of the giant Buffalo was nothing short of amazing. Several ancient totem poles served as supporting pillars deep inside the earth. Ancient torches decorated the walls, having been recently reignited to light the way. Ceremonial masks, feathers, and charms were littered throughout the hallowed ground that they crossed into. Ancient letters were carved into the walls, possibly spelling out names of the fallen members of the Buffalo who rest here. “…We shouldn’t be here,” Boomregard broke the silence. “Not us… not Guylan. This is a sacred place we’re defilin’ with our very presence. The sooner we find the Element, the sooner we can let these souls rest.” “I didn’t think you to be spiritual, Boomregard,” Spike responded. “Though I see your point… I feel like just by coming in here, we’re doing wrong.” “Ah guess somethin’ is comin’ back to me,” the Boomerang Bro voiced. “Still, we should hurry.” “Agreed,” Mario commented. The group began to walk inwards, passing all of the totem poles as they did so. Mario’s party didn’t have to wait too long to be detected, though, as Bandits attacked them in the next room, which was slightly more spacious than what they expected, with a staircase or going upwards, leading to another area on the left, and a staircase leading to a lower area on the right, but it was blocked by a door with a heavy lock. The Bandits were easy at this point. The locked door, however, was hard. “You guys think I could burn it off?” Spike asked. With that, he released his Dragon Fire… only for the lock to remain unaffected. “Darn! I thought we could actually skip this!” “Aw, you can’t get past that!” a feminine voice interjected, causing them to turn to see a Florie’s Root sticking out from beneath the staircase. “Too bad, baby Dragon! Perhaps if you were older, you could burn that lock and door right away! You need a key with that kind of strength! Too bad nobody’s gonna tell you! But maybe… if I had some water, I could tell you where the key is.” “Nice try, Florie’s Root,” Mario scowled, holding his Hammer. “But you’re not fooling anyone. We know about you.” “We do?” Boomregard asked, clearly confused. “How do you know about the Flories!?” the Florie’s Root questioned. “Ponies don’t know what we really are! There’s no way you should know!” Mario swung his hammer, but couldn’t reach the talking plant. “Too bad, buddy! I’m out of your reach. Well, maybe if you could breathe fire, you could burn me out of the stairs—” WHOOSH! “HOT! HOT! HOT!” the Florie’s Root shouted, springing out from her safe spot (using her roots to be feet), green flames burning her petals. “Curse you, Dragon! You can’t simply burn plants! That’s not right!” Spike grabbed the talkative plant, bonked her on the head with his fist to put out the flames (and shut her up for everybody’s comfort), and stuffed her in his scales. Boomregard blinked at this scene. “…What in the world just happened?” “Evil talkative weeds,” Spike answered. “We’ll explain later. Too bad I couldn’t burn the lock off.” “Well, ya tried doin’ the simple way,” Boomregard complimented. “But that annoyin’ plant creature was right. We’re gonna need a key, partner. An’ since none of these Bandits have one, we’re gonna need to look someplace we CAN git to.” “Well, I only see one way,” the plumber voiced, looking upwards. Mario’s group headed into the upper room to find that it took them to an upper part of the entrance. The totem poles on the ground level made for decoration. However, it was here that Mario saw the true obstacle of their purpose. On a totem pole right before the entrance was a blue switch with an exclamation mark on it. However, the other totem poles were arranged in a way that they were too high for Mario to jump on due to them burying the heads into the ceiling. Their arrangement was also rather curved, making it impossible for Boomregard to properly throw his Boomerang in a straight line to hit the switch. “How do get passed this?” Spike asked. “I’m stumped.” “Ah! So you all found this place! Good show, Mario!” Kolorado’s voice spoke up from below them. Mario had to resist the urge to place his face into his hand, and fight off a groan at the same time. “Kolorado,” Mario begged, “please tell me you’re a figment of my imagination and you’re not standing at the entrance.” “I’m afraid not, old friend!” Kolorado spoke up, walking inside with Kooper. “How in blazes did you all get up there?” “I’m sorry, Mario,” the blue shelled Koopa apologized. “He was too quick… I couldn’t stop him once we heard the rumbling. Silverstar and Braeburn managed to stop the rest of the team, though.” “Well, I take it that it’s too late to convince you to leave this to us?” Mario asked Kolorado. “No offense to you, Mario,” Kolorado chastised, “but I’ve been doing this kind of work for ages!” Looking at their position and the totem poles, Kolorado voiced, “Now, I see your problem, gentlemen.” “Ya do?” Boomregard questioned. “Ah, if it isn’t Boomregard!” Kolorado commented. “I remembered Kooper mentioning he vouched for your release to fight off our villain Guylan! Well, I can’t say I like the means my apprentice went to combat our foe, but I suppose you’re with Mario, so I can’t complain. In fact, this actually makes things easier to solve this puzzle.” “How?” Mario, Spike, and Boomregard questioned. “Well, if Boomregard was a normal Koopa Troopa like me and Kooper, this would be impossible to hit the switch. The same could be said about Hammer, Fire, and Ice Bros. However, Boomregard is a Boomerang Bro, and can curve his Boomerang tosses around obstacles! Imagine tracing a path on a Touch Screen around the totem poles, if you would. When that path is complete, you should be able to release and hit the switch.” “Kooper,” Mario asked aloud, “please tell me you could understand that?” “All I got was Boomregard can curve his throws on his Boomerang tosses and tracing a path on a Touch Screen,” the younger Koopa Troopa voiced. “Hopefully, SOMEBODY gets it.” Mario shrugged at this, but looked as Boomregard seemed to be concentrating on the path in front of him, his eyes closed. Soon enough, the Boomerang Bro’s eyes snapped open, and he threw his Boomerang out, somehow curving it between the statues before it struck the switch, bouncing the Boomerang back towards his waiting hand and the switch disappeared. Soon enough, the totem poles began to shake before lowering a level into the ground to allow Mario to jump across them, one that was right before the switch one revealing a brown chest. Mario thanked Boomregard before jumping his way across the totem poles and going to the chest. “Wow,” Spike breathed at his new ally. “How did you do that?” “Ah… Ah don’t know,” Boomregard voiced. “Ah just imagined what that there Professor was talkin’ ’bout in mah head, an’ the next thing Ah know, that happens. Ah guess that’s why Ah’m called Wild Spin. Ah must have a bit o’ a knack fer this kind o’ stuff.” “Splendid, Boomregard!” Kolorado cheered. “You’re a natural, even with amnesia!” Mario soon returned with a brown, boney Burial Grounds Key in his hands. “Nice work, Boomregard,” Mario smiled at his ally. “Well, we can use this to get further in, now.” “Mario, a word real quick,” Kolorado interjected. “There are perhaps times where even your baby Dragon companion will be stumped. Should I ever be around, simply talk to me, and I might be able to give you a bit of advice you need to solve particular puzzles. However, I cannot exactly concentrate when danger happens, so make sure to clear the area of any enemies before discussing any details with me, yes?” With that, Mario’s team headed back to the previous room, simply walking down to unlock the door and walk in, revealing a new trick for them to pass through. The new puzzle was a series of rib bones that seemed to somehow raise and lower themselves, separating a higher path from a lower one, with a thick net blocking a platform on the top level. On the lower level of the path, the group was stunned to find discarded Buffalo skeletons and Koopa skeletons lying on the ground haphazardly. “This is deplorable,” Boomregard voiced, shaking his head. “It’s one thing to steal from folks fer no good reason, another to hold onto a national treasure, an’ a third to trespass on ancient land as yer hideout… but to desecrate the dead? Definitely ain’t right. Where are ya, Guylan?” “Now, where have Ah heard all o’ that kind o’ prattle ’fore?” a new voice spoke up. While Kooper and Kolorado caught up to them, the three looked up from the ground level to see, standing at the entrance to the next area of the upper floor was a brown Shy Guy. But this Shy Guy was different from others, due to his black, skull-shaped mask where a Shy Guy’s would ordinarily be white. He had a brown rope at his side, and what looked like a yellow pistol in his hands. Finally, to complete his outfit, he had a red cowboy hat. “I take it you’re Black Mask Guylan?” Spike began for them all. “Ya’ll be correct,” the Shy Guy, Guylan, answered, not sounding too happy. “Ah must say, Ah heard ya’ll were comin’. But ya’ll are the weirdest lookin’ band o’ bounty hunters Ah’ve had the displeasure o’ layin’ mah eyes on. Still, Ah know why ya’ll chose to come out here. Ya’ll had heard ’bout mah Skull Boy Bandits roughin’ up those dumb Appleloosans fer cash, an’ want to turn me in, don’t ya?” “Well, I guess that’s one reason,” Kolorado voiced. “If you’d be so kind as to surrender yourself and any magical artifact you may have come across in the past few days, my friend Mario here won’t have to beat you senseless.” “Mario…?” Guylan asked, looking at the plumber. “Well, Ah can’t believe it! The notorious Super Mario has come all o’ the way to Equestria to fight me! Well, Ah believe Bowser may have a bounty on yer head back in the Mushroom Kingdom Ah’ll have to look up. Well, either that, or Ah’ll be famous as the one who ended the game o’ Mario. It don’t matter to me none.” Spike looked at Mario, Kooper, and Kolorado. “Um… who’s Bowser, and why would he have a bounty on Mario?” “You haven’t told him about Bowser, yet?” Kooper asked the plumber. The plumber placed his hand to his face, groaning. “I was seriously HOPING Bowser’s name would come up in conversation,” Mario explained to the blue-shelled Koopa Troopa. “Now that it has, well, Bowser will inevitably get involved in this somehow and just complicate things. Thanks, everybody.” Looking up at Guylan, he scowled, “Look, I know how this is going to go at this point. I know you have something I want— a magical object that fell from the sky about a few days ago. This is the part where you’re either surprised I know about this or irritated that I do, possibly both.” “Definitely the irritated,” Guylan confirmed. “An’ this is the part where Ah tell ya that ya ain’t gittin’ yer mitts on mah claim. Ya see, Ah don’t understand where this thing came from or why it fell, but Ah don’t care fer those kinds of details. Ya see, here in Equestria, magical energy powers just about everythin’. An’ this thing that fell from the sky that Ah assume we’re talkin’ ’bout— some kind o’ sphere thing with an orange glow? Well, that has magic aplenty. More than enough to power mah plans fer Appleloosa, an’ take that land. Too bad ya had to barge in an’ start knockin’ mah boys senseless… otherwise ya might have lived to see the end result. An’ let me guess… this is the part where ya hero types say yer gonna stop me an’ mah plans.” “Wow, you guys both really know what you’re doing,” Spike pointed out. “Well, mah old right hand Boomerang Bro spouted out same type of heroic nonsense,” Guylan answered. “Said he didn’t sign up fer where Ah was takin’ mah plans, just to steal money from rich idjits on the trains. Never once did he ever agree with me about goin’ after those townsfolk. He really protested ’bout what Ah did to the train station so no more trains can git in or out o’ that Mouser hole Appleloosa, by the way. Well, Ah showed him not to cross me, an’ left him fer dead!” “…So you DID nearly end mah game,” Boomregard voiced, scowling. “Now Ah know why, an’ Ah ain’t ’bout to let ya git away with whatever ya have in mind fer Appleloosa!” Guylan looked at the Boomerang Bro. If he was scowling or shocked, his mask didn’t show it. “Look, Ah’d love to stay here an’ play twenty questions with ya’ll,” Guylan answered, “but Ah got things to do. With that magic rock, mah plans are already ahead o’ schedule an’ need mah supervision to complete, so Ah can’t afford the time to end yer games mahself. So, Ah guess these bones will half to take ya to the Underwhere themselves. Goodbye, boys.” With that, Guylan turned around, and walked into the room, the door closing after the incident. “Uh, what did he mean by bones?” Spike asked. The baby Dragon was then answered by the sight of the Koopa Troopa and even Buffalo skeletons suddenly beginning to twitch, only to spring to life, becoming Dull Bones and some type of undead Buffalo creature. “…Oh,” the Dragon breathed, worry on his face. Mario, meanwhile, clenched his Hammer while Boomregard held his Boomerang, prepared. “Kooper,” Mario yelled at the blue shelled Koopa Troopa, “you protect Prof. Kolorado, perhaps even figure out how to get around this puzzle!” “Uh, okay!” “Spike,” Mario instructed, the stunned baby Dragon, “can you tell us about the skeleton Buffalo that’s going to try to kill us?” “Oh, right,” Spike realized, using Tattle. When he burped up Celestia’s reply, he read, “So, this is a Bonefallo. Kind of a bad pun, but that’s all Princess Celestia and I could come up with. Bonefallo are able to charge and hit all of us at once with their stampeding skills. Having a bunch of them in one place is just disaster since they all attack at once! And, like other undead enemies and Timberwolves, these guys can revive themselves unless their bodies are truly destroyed. Luckily, they’re weak to fire, but they can take a couple more hits than a Dull Bones can.” “Great,” Mario groaned. “Boomregard, could you use that Wild Arc of yours to take out the Dull Bones?” “Can do, partner!” Boomregard agreed, charging up his throw before unleashing it, hitting all of the Dull Bones, reducing them back to skeletons on the ground, but the two Bonefallo foes just endured the hit. They then reared up, and charged into Mario’s group, flattening all three of them twice over. “That… hurt,” Spike voiced after they got up. “How do we take them all out? We’d need to strike them all at once with some kind of attack that ignores defense.” Mario then mentally slapped himself. He forgot that he had items perfect for this. “POW Block?” Mario suggested, pulling out the aforementioned block, and struck it from beneath. Soon enough, the entire burial grounds were shaken up, and the Bonefallo fell apart. Unfortunately, the three Koopas that were in the room had the unfortunate effect of being flipped onto their backs. “I’ve got to remember that I have items,” the plumber voiced while helping up Kooper and Kolorado. “Anybody need healing?” “I’m fine,” Spike answered, getting the Boomerang Bro back on his feet. “Boomregard?” “Ah’ll live,” the Boomerang Bro answered. “Mah shell is tougher than most.” He then noticed a gleam from one of the fallen Bonefallo. “Hey, Mario… is that another key?” Mario picked it up, looking at it. “What do you know? Good eye. Now, let’s use it.” With precision timing, Mario’s trio managed to navigate their way to the upper levels while Kooper and Kolorado stayed on the lower level. “We’ll split up to cover more ground,” Kooper explained. “You guys take the high road, and we’ll take the low road!” “Maybe we’ll find out Guylan’s plan before you do!” Kolorado voiced. “Whatever it is, if it involved cutting off Appleloosa from the rest of Equestria, it can’t be good.” When Mario’s group reached the large net, Boomregard tried to throw his Boomerang around it, but the net was too thick and bounced his Boomerang back or the rib bone they were on would change directions at the worse. “Drat… we’re gonna need this net outta the way.” “I think I have an idea,” Mario commented aloud. “Spike, could you?” “Right,” the baby Dragon nodded, inhaling as their rib. One exhale later, and the net was burned away, revealing a switch in striking distance. One throw from Boomregard, and the door opened up. Jumping to the ledge Guylan was on before, Mario smirked. “He can run, but he can’t hide. Let’s get after him.” When the three entered the upper hall, though, they were surprised to see a wider room with Bandits, Dull Bones, Bonefallo, and Spiked Goombas. On the other end of the hallway was a locked doorway. However, after dispatching of all threats, none of them produced a key needed. “Oh no,” Mario groaned with a frown. “There’s no key up here. And the only other area available to us is downstairs. This only means one thing, and none of us are going to like it.” “That we have to leave this room, jump downstairs, hopefully find another Burial Grounds Key, do that moving rib bone platform puzzle thing again, walk all of the way back across this room, and then open the door?” Spike explained. “Well, that’s the long version,” Mario replied. “But most adventurers simply call it one thing: backtracking.” And backtrack they did, heading to the lower leveled room. There, they saw Kooper and Kolorado in a room of KO’d Bandits. The blue shelled Koopa Troopa looking quite proud of himself as he walked over to a small yellow 3-D block with a pair of eyes on it placed rather insignificantly on the wall. “Hey, Mario!” Kooper asked. “Prof. Kolorado and I got into a little argument with these Bandits. You see, they wanted to steal our shells, and I didn’t want to be reminded of the Fuzzies invasion of Koopa Village.” “I can see,” Mario commented. Looking at one that had burn marks on him, Mario asked, “Did you use your Fire Shell? That’s a little overkill, don’t you think?” “I really don’t like Fuzzies and Bandits imitating Fuzzies.” “Wait,” Spike asked, “you can use fire? Koopas aren’t part dragon, are they?” “We’re more tortoise than dragon,” Kooper explained. “However, sometimes, I can hit a lot of enemies with fire on my shell. But anyways, Kolorado and I are kind of stuck.” “Well, I would say more ‘challenged’ than ‘stuck’,” Kolorado insisted. “You see, Mario, I can feel a faint wind in this room, but I can’t find out where. Also, have you ever noticed how certain blocks have eyes? It’s kind of creepy, don’t you think?” Mario then noticed the block in the way, pulling out his Hammer as he did so. With a single swing, the block was reduced to rubble, revealing a hole that was too big for most people. Kolorado clicked his tongue, annoyed. “Blast! Guylan is good! None of us can fit in there. Unless, of course, one could turn into some sort of tiny creature that could.” Mario’s eyes blinked at that. “Oh, right. Spike, you ready for this?” “Yeah!” the baby Dragon nodded. The next thing the three Koopas in the room knew Mario and Spike turned completely flat, lying on the ground before turning into their Papergami Pig Forms. “Oink!” “…What in blazes did ya’ll DO to yerselves!?” Boomregard breathed, stunned by this development. “Don’t worry,” Mario spoke up from his form as a pig. “We know what we’re doing. Boomregard, I’m going to have to ask you to stay there until I come back to teach you this.” “Yeah,” the Boomerang Bro awkwardly nodded. “Ya’ll do that.” With that, Mario and Spike, as pigs, walked through the small hole, entering a corridor that was too tight for them to jump out of it. However, the corridor contained a sparkly object that Spike looked at, confused. “What’s this?” the Dragon-turned-pig asked Mario, picking it up. “A Star Piece? Here?” Mario asked aloud. “How did one of these get into Equestria?” “So you’ve seen Star Pieces before, Mario?” Spike inquired. “I guess we can hold onto it until we find something to do with it.” Mario and Spike then continued down the corridor, eventually finding a room more than tall enough to allow them to return to normal, containing a small treasure chest on a pedestal. Mario and Spike opened it, revealing another Burial Grounds Key. “Alright, then,” Mario commented, turning back into his Pig Form. “Let’s take this and get back to the others.” With that, the two headed back to the other room, springing back to their normal forms. “My word, Mario,” Kolorado spoke for the three Koopas, clearly impressed at the act. “You certainly have picked up a few tricks in your travels, haven’t you?” “You could say that, Kolorado,” Mario smirked. “Anyways, we have the key to the room, now, so we can keep going after Guylan.” “By the way,” Boomregard questioned as they headed back the way they came before, “can ya tell me how ya’ll did that?” “A Papergami Ninja taught me that, if you can believe it.” Now able to travel through the locked door, Mario’s group and the two Koopa Troopa archeologists made it to a room containing a few Bandits and a couple of cowboy hat wearing Shy Guys wielding popguns, talking to each other. “So in mah personal opinion,” a yellow Shy Guy commented, “the worst Super Mario Bros. enemy in history? Koopa Troopas. Ya jump on ’em in the main games? They go into their shells an’ the Mario Bros. can pick up their shells to have a projectile that can KO anybody, includin’ allies. Friendly fire at its worst! Not to mention how in the Paper Mario games they just fall on their backs an’ can’t move unless they have a full turn NOT bein’ jumped on!” “I’d actually have to say Goombas,” a Bandit argued. “Can be taken out in a normal hit by either a stomp or a Hammer. No wonder why they’re the first enemy you encounter in EVERY Super Mario Bros. game in the series!” “Yer both wrong,” a red Shy Guy interjected. “It’s the entire Pony Enemy Class in this game! Seriously, they’re ridiculously hard to time your guards with. It’s like Hammer Bros an’ Boomerang Bros, but with HOOVES!” “An’ how does that qualify them as worst enemy class in history?” the yellow Shy Guy questioned. “Simple,” the red one explained. “They’re simply AGGRIVATIN’! Ah can’t get past Chapter 7 in this game ’cause o’ all o’ them pony enemies IN Chapter 7! An’ even if Ah do, there’s Chapter 8 an’ that looks like there’s gonna be MORE o’ ’em, three o’ which are gonna be BOSSES! Whoever designed this game deserves a kick where the SUN don’t shine!” “…Wait a minute,” the Bandit interrupted. “So, let me get this straight. You’ve gotten through over HALF of this game already.” “Yep.” “So, you even know how THIS chapter ends?” the Bandit confirmed. “Yeah,” the red Shy Guy nodded. “Even what happens in the room where Mario’s party first encounters us Cowboy Guys. In fact, if memory serves, the Cowboy Guys had a conversation… just… like… aw crud, they’re in here watchin’ this RIGHT NOW, ain’t they?” The yellow Cowboy Guy looked behind them to see Mario’s group staring flabbergasted at the weird conversation. “Eeyup,” he answered. To Mario, he said, “We’re really sorry, but we’re kinda behind an’ we just realized we’re back on the clock. Just give us a moment to git back in character.” With that, he then raised his popguns in the air, and then fired them off in rapid session, his fellow Cowboy Guys doing the same while the Bandits ran the opposite way. “…Okay, we’re good! Let’s have at it!” With that, the battle started. “…Okay, that being beyond weird aside,” Spike declared after a quick Tattle, “these are Cowboy Guys. They are elite members of the Skull Boys gang under Guylan. Their popguns can hit us in rapid succession, but they’re not too tough, otherwise.” Boomregard’s Wild Arc did quite a bit of damage against the Cowboy Guys, but they countered by shooting multiple corks at the Boomerang Bro. Luckily, Boomregard retreated into his shell to perform a perfect Superguard spin to bounce most of the corks off, but he wasn’t able to keep up against the assault forever. Mario and Spike, however, managed to cover for him with their attacks, allowing them to finish off a couple of them before Boomregard got off another Boomerang Toss, taking the last one out. After dusting themselves off, Mario’s group just walked away from the unconscious Cowboy Guys with another Burial Grounds Key that one of them dropped in hand, followed by Kooper and Kolorado. “So,” Kolorado voiced, “we’re all in agreement that we NEVER mention this room ever again in casual conversation, right?” “Mention what again?” Boomregard asked, agreeing with the archeologist. “Good,” Kolorado commented. Changing the subject, the Koopa Troopa archeologist remarked, “Since they were elite guards, we must be getting close to the Buffalo’s treasure room, where they’ve no doubt stored several historical valuables.” “Really, Kolorado?” Mario groaned at the archeologist. “This is the Buffalo tribe’s ancient Burial Grounds. It’s not like you’re going to find anything of worthwhile that they’d be willing to part ways with…” “Well, one can’t help but hope they won’t miss something,” Kolorado answered with a shrug. “Besides, you’re clearing out their sacred resting place from thieves!” Soon enough, the group had taken out the Bandits from before, and opened the locked door at the end of the hallway. The next room, though, was huge. It was larger than any room in the Burial Grounds, three floors tall with stairs and bridges connecting the place. Besides the path they came into the room on the top left, there were five other paths: the top right, the middle left, the middle right, the bottom left, and the bottom right. Besides that, the room had a Heart Block and a Save Block next to each other. In the dead center of the room that could only be reached by the bridges was a colossal totem pole that had red, green, purple, gray, and orange Buffalo faces with open mouths from top to bottom in that order. In the green and gray totem pole mouths were a pair of blue switches. In the bottom purple head, though, there was a scroll. Spike breathed, “Does everypony else think that this is some kind of central chamber?” “Well,” Mario agreed, “it WOULD make sense. But what is this for?” Kolorado and Kooper walked over to it, looking it over. Kolorado pulled out the scroll, and opened it. “Ah ha,” the Koopa Troopa archeologist declared. “It’s faded, but it’s written in the Buffalo’s ancient language. It’s a good thing I researched it before coming to this region. Now, let’s see.” Travelers of the departed path, come to honor our members whose games have ended, heed these words. This is the final challenge to our people’s final resting place. In the hooves of our greatest chiefs lie three treasures you must pry from them. Each of their rooms are in the next chambers. However, upon placing the keys, you must strike the switches in the correct order, found in another chamber. Finally, in the last chamber, you will find one additional clue to ignite the power of the totem pole. Only then will you get to join us in the great stampede. Chief Warhead “Looks like we’re going to have to explore all of the rooms here before we can get any further,” Kooper concluded. “I’m not one for splitting the party, but we have a lot of ground to cover.” “I know,” Mario nodded. Looking at Boomregard, the plumber could not help but notice that the Boomerang Bro was holding his head. “Is… is there something wrong, Boomregard?” “…Ah’m startin’ to remember this place,” the Boomerang Bro answered. “It’s… a snippet, but… Ah swore Ah remember bein’ dragged down the stairs… an’ this huge totem pole was right there. Ah… Ah see Guylan holdin’ up some sorta orange stone sphere. But… there was another Boomerang Bro bein’ dragged…’sides me. He… he kinda looked like Ah did. Then… nothin’ but the sheriff an’ that Braeburn feller lookin’ down at me from the top o’ the crater. Silverstar arrested me right then.” “Another Boomerang Bro?” Kolorado commented. “You don’t think it was another one from Appleloosa?” “Ah… Ah dunno,” Boomregard answered. “But mah amnesia may have started clearin’ up.” Looking at Mario, he said, “Anyways, Ah’m sorry ’bout that. That memory didn’t help us, none.” “It’s alright,” Mario commented. “This confirms without a doubt that Guylan has the Element… and another Boomerang Bro hostage. We better hurry up and save him.” “Right, then,” Kolorado nodded. “Mario, do be a good friend and explore the other chambers with your team. Which chamber should Kooper and I explore?” “How about the bottom right?” the plumber suggested. With that, the two Koopa Troopas left to the bottom right passage way, leaving Mario’s group to deal with exploring the other four rooms. Seeing as they were on the bottom level, they headed for the left, where they found a couple Cowboy Guys, a Bandit, and a couple Bonefallo guarding a massive Buffalo statue. In the statue’s hooves was a purple stained bone. After barely beating them all, Spike pried the bone from the statue’s hooves. “Let’s hope the other rooms we have to go through isn’t this filled with foes,” the baby Dragon groaned. “Somepony give me that, at least.” “I dunno, Spike,” Mario commented. “Places like these aren’t shy with enemies guarding treasure.” “Ugh,” Spike groaned. “Let’s get the rest of this over with.” The next room they went in, the central right, had only three Bonefallo and a Dull Bones, which were easy to defeat after healing up between Mario’s Power Smash, Boomregard’s Wild Arc, and Spike using their last POW Block on them. In this room, though, was just a torch… and something else. “Hello, travelers!” the Florie’s Root embedded to the upper wall that was too far to jump or breathe fire on greeted. “Could you spare any water?” “Okay,” Mario announced to the weed, “we’ve run into two of you, already, so we know you’re routine by heart. You want water to grow into a giant Florie to terrorize people. We’re not falling for it.” “…Oh,” the Florie’s Root breathed. “Darn, really? Aw man, I had a speech prepared and everything. Well, lucky for me, I chose to root myself all of the way up here. Unless you guys could throw something, to bring me to you, I ain’t budging.” “Yeah, about that,” Mario retorted, looking at Boomregard. The Boomerang Bro looked at Mario, blinking in surprise. “Uh, ya want me to bring that plant down here?” the Boomerang Bro asked. “Okay… still wanna know what’s goin’ on with this, but sure.” With that, the Florie’s Root soon found herself yanked out of the wall and brought down to the ground. She then sprang up before any of them could grab her. “You’ll never take me alive!” the Florie’s Root declared, beginning to run… only to bump into Kooper. “Uh… who are you?” “Mario,” the blue shelled Koopa Troopa spoke up, holding an orange colored bone, “it was tough going, but we found an Orange Bone in that room you sent us to!” Looking down at the plant, he asked. “What’s this?” “Oh, kind Koopa,” the Florie’s Root begged. “I am but a humble Florie, a plant that cannot thrive in this cursed desert atmosphere the way I am, now. If you would be so kind as to give me water, I shall reward you—” WHACK! “Thanks, Kooper,” Mario commented, removing his Hammer off of the Florie’s Root, and Spike pocketed it. Kooper just stood there, shocked at what Mario just did to a defenseless plant. “Uh, remind me to tell you WHY I did that later. Right now, all you need to know is that’s an evil plant creature whose race plans on taking over Equestria. If I didn’t do that, it would probably become worse. I’m nipping it in the bud.” “Uh, okay,” the blue shelled Koopa Troopa nodded. “But don’t you think using a Hammer on it was a little harsh?” “It’s not the prettiest capture method for monster plants,” the plumber agreed. “But for these stubborn plants, it’s effective.” “…Well, anyways,” Kooper changed the subject, “I’ve got this thing for you.” With that, Kooper handed the Orange Bone over. “So, what was in this room?” Mario, Boomregard, and Spike all looked at the torch, confused. “…So, what’s a torch supposed to represent?” Mario asked aloud. “Hold on,” Spike spoke up. “That last clue… it said in one of the chambers, we’d figure out the third thing we had to do to get past the next puzzle. It even said ‘ignite’. I think it’s talking about fire! And I’m a Dragon! We’re in luck!” “…That makes SO much sense!” Boomregard realized. “Spike, yer a genius!” “Well, I’ve grown up being raised by one of Equestria’s brightest ponies and her mentor, Princess Celestia,” Spike waved off. “Only fair I pick up a few smarts along the way.” “Don’t be boastful, partner,” Boomregard scowled. “We still gotta git the third bone, put ’em in the right slots, an’ activate the switches in the right order ’fore ya git to do yer part.” “Oh, right,” Spike remembered. “Darn.” With that, the four found Kolorado banged up but otherwise fine, standing outside looking at the totem poles. “Okay,” the Koopa Troopa professor remarked, “Kooper found you? Good, because you won’t believe the foes we had to face just to get that bone.” “You’ll have to forgive Prof. Kolorado,” Kooper chuckled. “He’s a little frazzled from being trampled by Bonefallo.” “The Koopa Troopa archeologist who survived being bitten by Jungle Fuzzies, stabbed by Spear Guys, a massive Yoshi panic attack, being rolled over by a giant Spiny Tromp, and three incidents of lava, nearly getting your game ended over a vase that a STAR SPIRIT had to save you and berate you for your recklessness,” Mario chuckled. “And being trampled by Bonefallo is your worst experience?” “Perhaps I’m getting too old for all of this,” Kolorado shrugged. “Anyways, Mario, I’m not risking another encounter with those things. It’s best that I leave the adventuring to someone younger than me, and stay here. I’m sorry, Mario, but I’ve done all I’ve can to help you, now.” “Don’t worry, Kolorado,” Mario assured. “We’re almost done, anyways. You’ve helped us out quite enough. Just need to go through two more rooms… the top levels.” “Well, good luck,” the archeologist nodded. “I better stay here with Prof. Kolorado,” Kooper suggested. “In case anymore Bandits or Cowboy Guys show up.” “Good idea,” Mario concluded. Mario’s group then headed to the top floors, taking on the top left. Rather than a room with a bone, there was just a giant picture of the massive totem pole on the wall with a few Dull Bones in it. After taking care of the Dull Bones problem, Mario looked at the drawing, surprised to see the faces making insulting looks at him. “That’s insultin’,” Boomregard chided the ancients who drew the picture. “Ain’t like the Buffalo to do somethin’ like this.” He then looked closer, where part of the wall gave wall, floating down to reveal it was a parchment. He then realized, “Hold on… there’s a message, here.” To anyone who finds this… this here’s a fake that Guylan set up to discourage intruders from solvin’ the final puzzle. Guylan’s plans ain’t sittin’ right fer me to let happen. He’s gonna use the annual Buffalo stampede as cover fer his huge plan to scare out Appleloosa’s citizens with a massive train engine disguised as an angry Buffalo spirit! That way, he can steal the town’s apple supplies an’ make a mint on the property easily. He says he can work the train, but he can’t even drive a go-kart well, let alone a train! A runaway train could cause colossal damage in Appleloosa, perhaps even kill some innocent folks! Ah didn’t sign up fer hurtin’ people, just stealin’. If yer readin’ this, though… it means mah game’s most likely o’er an’ yer either someone interested in takin’ down Guylan or yer one o’ Guylan’s loyalists with more brain cells than Ah thought ya had. Even if ya are with Guylan, Ah implore ya… did anyone here agree to deliberately hurt some innocent folks? Ah don’t think so! Now that the truth is out, Ah want ya to tell me that ya can let him do this an’ sleep at night knowin’ that yer the reason so many lives are lost! That town doesn’t have any Life Shrooms, people! Anyways, if mah game is over, Ah want someone to know what’s goin’ on… an’ to apologize fer any crimes Ah committed. Ah know it’s too late fer me to make proper amends fer mah sins, an’ the Underwhere will have mah soul, but Ah just want to say Ah’m sorry fer all Ah’ve done. May the truth guide mah way, Wild Spin Boomregard P.S., Would someone burn this stupid cover? It’s kinda in the way o’ how ya can solve this puzzle. Mario and Spike looked at each other before looking at Boomregard’s hands quivering as he held what could have been his last message before Guylan betrayed him. The letter fell to the ground, audibly smacking the ground due to the silence. “…Guylan,” the Boomerang Bro breathed. “He’s gonna end the games o’ just ’bout everyone in Appleloosa just to git a profit outta sellin’ the land an’ tearin’ the place down. An’ it’s mah fault that his plans have gotten this far. Ah failed… an’ now, he’s almost ready to do it. Even after all o’ the townsfolk feared me an’ hated me fer what Ah had been doin’ to ’em, Ah still tried to save ’em… and Ah failed. Now, thanks to me not stoppin’ him, he’s gonna use that there Element o’ Harmony to ironically destroy Appleloosa.” “It’s not your fault, Boomregard,” Mario quickly told the Boomerang Bro before the mood went sour. “This is all on Guylan. He’s a madman who is willing to risk innocent lives to make a mint, while you were honorable enough to have standards and knew where to draw the line.” “Besides, so what if you couldn’t stop him the first time?” Spike added. “You have another shot, buddy, and a far greater incentive. But you’re not alone, this time. Mario and I are with you, and you have a second chance— not everypony gets one. This time, you won’t fail.” To emphasize how much they were supporting Boomregard, he turned to the insulting totem pole picture, and exhaled his flame, burning the picture away to reveal a new picture. It was a totem pole, but it had numbers in it- one on purple, two on red, three on orange, four on gray, and five on green. “I think this is the order we have to put the bones in and hit the switches?” “Looks like it,” Boomregard answered. “Mario, Spike… thank ya kindly fer… everythin’. Back when Ah joined up in this posse, fer me this was ’bout revenge on a mutual foe. But, now that Ah know the truth, it’s less ’bout that… it’s mostly ’bout doin’ the right thing, even if everyone don’t trust ya.” Looking at the two, Boomregard’s eyes burned with a passion Mario had not often seen before. “Alright, boys. Let’s mount up an’ ride! We’re running Guylan an’ the rest o’ these Skull Boys outta here an’ savin’ Appleloosa!” “Don’t forget the Element of Harmony,” Mario pointed out. Boomregard sheepishly looked at the two, lowering his hat so it didn’t show his eyes. “Oh, an’ we need to git the Element o’ Harmony while we’re at it, in order to save Equestria. We can’t leave that in Guylan’s hands.” With that, the three left that room, heading to the last unexplored room, revealing the last room to have a Red Bone behind several more Dull Bones and a Bonefallo. After fighting them off, they took it, and headed back to the central chamber, down to where Kooper and Kolorado were. “So, we have the code and the keys to unlock the code, yes?” Kolorado asked. With a nod from Mario, he cheered, “Splendid! Now we can get this trap over with. Mario, what shall we do?” Mario quickly explained the order that they needed to do everything with, and how Spike and Boomregard each needed to do their jobs in rapid succession. “Well, then, we best get started! Hand me the Purple Bone, and I’ll set it.” He did just that, causing that part of the totem pole’s eyes to glow. “Kooper, take the Red Bone and do the same for there.” Kooper nodded, already rushing up the stairs with the Red Bone. “Mario, head to the middle and on place the Orange Bone in the middle level once Kooper does his part. Then Boomregard and Spike, you do your things. We’ve got this.” Mario walked upstairs, Spike passing him to head to the top while Boomregard stayed on the lower level. When Mario reached the middle floor, heard Kooper yell that he had his bone in place. Mario then set the Orange Bone in the orange head’s mouth, causing its eyes to glow. “Alright, Boomregard,” Mario yelled down, “remember it’s gray then green!” “Got it!” the Boomerang Bro yelled up, throwing his Boomerang upwards, hitting the switches in the mouths of the two totem poles heads’ mouths in that order, causing their eyes to glow as well. The red one on top’s head then began glowing like its eyes. “Now, Spike!” “Okay,” the baby Dragon nodded, setting the red totem pole head. This caused the other heads to light up on fire alongside it, before suddenly snuffing themselves out. “Uh… now what?” Soon enough, the ground began to rumble beneath Boomregard and Kolorado’s feet, and some of it folded away, revealing a final staircase… the first step being right below where Kolorado was standing. “Well, this is unfortunate,” the Koopa Troopa archeologist commented right before gravity took hold, sending him tumbling down the stairs, letting out grunts of pain as he fell down the flight. Boomregard, who was fortunate enough to be anywhere but where the steps were, just looked flabbergasted at the scene. “Uh, is he gonna be okay?” “Yeah,” Kooper answered as he came back down with Mario and Spike. “It’s not a Prof. Kolorado adventure if he’s not in some form of pain right before we find our destination. That way, we know for certain that we’re on the right track. I’ll go ahead and make sure he’s still conscious, at least. You guys save and heal up. It’s usually at this point there’s a boss fight, and I’d rather not have to go through this entire puzzle again if I were you.” With that, Kooper headed down the stairs, leaving Mario and friends confused about his words. Regardless, Mario healed up with the Heart Block, used the Save Block, and headed downstairs to see Kooper talking to a heavily battered Kolorado. “Why yes, Koopa Kroop,” Kolorado dazedly commented. “I do like your eyebrows. They are so fetching…” “I’m going to have to take him back to Appleloosa, soon,” Kooper remarked, helping the older Koopa Troopa out. “Give Guylan a smack for each of us, boys!” “Don’t worry, Kooper,” Mario nodded, “we will.” Their hopes were dashed, however… by the sight of a locked door, with a note on it. Mario, If yer readin’ this, then ya somehow bested all o’ mah boys AN’ solved that there last puzzle. However, Ah planned ’head o’ ya… Ah locked this door, just in case ya got this far, an’ stored the key where ya’ll never find it. An’ only Boomregard has a similar key to this door, an’ he ain’t ’round. Good luck gittin’ to me, now! Black Mask Guylan “Drat!” Spike groaned. “Why does he have to be a smart bad guy!? Boomregard, tell me you have a key in that shell of yours.” Boomregard, after patting himself down, sighed. “Ah’m ’fraid Ah don’t, Spike.” However, Boomregard noticed a small hole in the wall next to the bottom of the stairs. “Hey, Mario… ya reckon somethin’ is at the end o’ this?” “I reckon so,” Mario commented. Telling Kooper to go ahead and take Kolorado back to town, Mario, Spike, and Boomregard took to their Papergami Pig Forms (Boomregard’s being a dark blue and black pig wearing his hat), and crawled through the hole, eventually into a room with a treasure chest on a pedestal. “Well,” Spike shrugged, “it looks like Guylan’s not as smart as he thinks he is.” With that, he opened the treasure chest… only to pull out a note. Got ya, suckers! Black Mask Guylan “…What?” Mario, Spike, and Boomregard asked. Soon enough, the pedestal sank into the ground, and the floor suddenly folded away, revealing a pitfall trap… right underneath them. “Aw crud,” Mario commented right before gravity took hold, sending all three of them plummeting into the chasm, where upon hitting the ground on the lower level, knocked themselves unconscious.